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Mihintale, view from Aradhana Gala, Mahaseya Dagoba

Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.

According to Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, Thera Mahinda came to Sri Lanka from India on the full moon day of the month of Poson (June) and met King Devanampiyatissa and the people, and preached the doctrine. The traditional spot where this meeting took place is revered by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. Therefore, in the month of Poson, Buddhists make their pilgrimage to Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

Mahinda was the son of Emperor Ashoka of India. King Ashoka embraced Buddhism after he was inspired by a very small monk named Nigrodha. The King who was in great misery after seeing the loss of life caused by his waging wars to expand his empire, was struck by the peaceful countenance of such a young monk. Meeting this young monk made a turning point in his life and he thereafter, renounced wars. He was determined to spread the message of peace, to neutralize the effects from the damages caused by him through his warfare. As a result, both his son and daughter were ordained as Buddha disciples, and became enlightened as Arahats. In his quest to spread the message of peace instead of war, he sent his son Mahinda, to the island of Lanka. This island was being ruled by his friend King Devanampiyatissa.

Mihintale is the flat terrain on top of a hill from where Mahinda was supposed to have called King Devanampiyatissa, by the King’s first name to stop him shooting a deer in flight.

From ancient times a large number of large steps were constructed to climb Mihintale. It is stated that King Devanampiyatissa constructed a vihara and 68 caves for the bhikkhus to reside in. At Mihintale there gradually grew a number of Buddhist viharas with all the dependent buildings characteristic of monasteries of that period.

Maha Seya is the large stupa on the summit of the Mihintale hill, built by King Mahadathika Mahanaga (7-19 AD) the base of which is 41 m in diameter. The stupa which was in a dilapidated condition was completely restored.

Aradhana Gala is on a summit of a hill and faces Maha Seya. Even during very windy weather pilgrims do not fail to visit this rock, which has iron railings to help them to climb. In the ancient books such as the Mahavamsa it is written that Mahinda came to Sri Lanka by travelling through the air. He came down and landed at Sri Lanka on the top of the Aradhana Gala.

(source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihintale)

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Taken in: Sri Lanka / North Central / Mihintale (show map)

Taken on: December 22, 2009

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Mahaseya Dagoba

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Anuradhapura

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Sets appears in: • Public • Sri Lanka 2009 best more » • 2009 • Sri Lanka « less

Groups appears in: • Project Weather

Camera: Canon EOS 450D, f/5.6, 1/80 sec, 18mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 450D
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	18mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Landscape
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Picasa 3.0
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